Foxboro, Mass. — North American Elite 19U wasted little time taking control, scoring three first-period goals to earn a 3-0 victory over WC Swans Gold 19U and secure a spot in the championship game on Sunday.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
North American Elite 19U came out with energy from the opening faceoff and quickly found its rhythm offensively. Just 2:36 into the game, Brooke Carlson opened the scoring off assists from Kimee Duplessis and Natasha Godfrey, giving North American Elite 19U an early 1-0 advantage.
The pressure continued throughout the period as North American Elite 19U kept play moving in the offensive zone. At the 7:07 mark, Elsa Berglund doubled the lead with help from Merritt Tessier, putting North American Elite 19U firmly in control.
WC Swans Gold 19U continued to battle and looked for a spark to cut into the deficit, but North American Elite 19U maintained its pace and capitalized on another opportunity late in the period.
While skating shorthanded, Megan Carlson struck at 15:50, finishing a play set up by Merritt Tessier and Sienna Glass. The goal stretched the lead to 3-0 and provided North American Elite 19U with valuable momentum heading into the remainder of the contest.
From there, North American Elite 19U focused on protecting its advantage. WC Swans Gold 19U continued to push forward and search for a breakthrough, but a disciplined defensive effort kept scoring chances to a minimum.
With the early offensive surge proving more than enough, North American Elite 19U closed out the shutout victory and punched their ticket to the championship game.
